The Red Badge of Courage Audiobook

" I short and easy read, yet very profound. I think it helps show how people become heroes ... inadvertently. I think it just shows how we do what we do, life throws us a few curve balls, and we deal with it. Funny how those things really can define who we are. It has given me a lot to think about. "

" A young boy goes to war, chickens out, and runs away. After getting hit on the head, he is able to put his shame behind him when fellow soldiers assume he has been wounded in war. He later "redeems" himself by fighting vigorously. I read this in high school and remembered liking it. I didn't care for it this time. I did find some interesting things in the commentary at the end of the book. It said "what we look for in most novels is a relationship between the external and internal conflict. One is often resolved by means of the other..." So basically coming to terms with an inner conflict allows one to deal with an external problem; OR, the external conflict reveals a hidden part of a person's nature which allows the resolution of the internal conflict. "

" The worst war story ever written. Seriously, if I had to read one more paragraph that started with the word "presently" meaning "soon" instead of "now" I was going to rip out an eyeball. "

" I read this many years ago during high school. I was a lot better than I remembered. "

" A little depressing... thanks to Crane's naturalist/realist stylistic qualities... but altogether really good writing. I enjoyed reading about an introspective character as a change from all the (seemingly) fashionably non-introspective main characters of today's YA literature. I had to read this for school, and granted at some places it was a little hard to get through, but for the most part I found it decently intriguing. "

" Oh it was amazing. Just amazing. A must read. I'm doing my junior theme on crane and I just feel this story is a master peace. Expertly woven with imagery and symbolism and everything you could want in a highly evolved, intellectual, touching story of bravery and manhood. "

" My husband liked it more than I did. Story of a Civil War soldier and his "coming of age" ..hate that epithet! "

" i think it's a good read to expose youth the the realities of war. plus, it's short. didn't blow me away, though. "

" It was ok but not a big fan of war "

" This high school classic follows the conflicted thoughts of a young Civil War soldier during his first battle against enemy troops. The focus is not on the war, but on the inner turmoil experienced by the youth. It makes for very ungripping reading. Important reflections about the nature of human conflict, but still boring. "

" Thought provoking and uncomfortably familiar. "

" this book took me longer to read than any other book i have ever read...it was a really boring book. "

" What can I say? It's a classic. Not unreadable--I remember reading this in school. It seems a bit redundant in places, but overall, not bad (and it's short!) "

" This was an awesome book about the Civil War and its affect on one young man and how he grew up as a soldier. "

" A book about the details of war written by a man who was never a soldier. And then the ending with the farm - that was just weird. "

" Lots of lots of imagery, not so much story. I'm sure high school literature teachers love it since there is a simile or metaphor in every sentence, but I couldn't stay into it. The prose was nice, the plot was not. "

" Very much an adult read. Crane realistically captures the fear of going to war. "

" It has a different writing style. Never understand why classics become such. Rarely gives characters a name. Different but now I know what it is about. "

" The best book about war ever. Really. In its simplicity it does more to explain the experiences of Civil War soldiers than a whole college course on the subject. It is required in most schools and it should be. "

" The Red Badge of Courage , by Stephen Crane, is about a man named Henry who rights in the civil war. The writing style was authentic, as it used many civil war era slang. IN the first battle, Henry was a coward and ran. This book was engaging, but hard to understand since we talk differently. In the end, Henry returned to the army and fights like a lion. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a challenging but educational book about the civil war. "

" An excellent book about the fog and confusion of war as seen through the eyes of a boy who wants to become a man. Very descriptive and interesting. This is a re-read for me, but like other books I read as a teen, it was like reading it for the first time. "

" Read this after reading Chancellorsville, and the appendix speaking to Red Badge of Courage, and how it's likely based on the battle for the setting. It's amazing how much more I enjoyed reading this knowing this perspective, as I'd read it many times before. It's revealed I think how much I enjoy setting in a book, almost the most important element perhaps, because the unspecified battle and location always took something away from reading this book before. I think I really value knowing the big picture of what's going on, and during reading the book was picturing what phase of the overall battle was occurring. It was fascinating to think of one single character, Henry Fleming, in the sea of soldiers and one "little story" within the 'big picture'. I often wonder how much this little book, read for the first time in junior high, had to do with me starting my recent explorations within Civil War literature and history? "

" A classic short story. I read this as an eBook. The tale follows the psychology of a young soldier's coming of age in the Civil War. "

" I recall the Red Badge of Courage as having a strong set of thematic, empathetic elements. At one time or another, we've all projected ourselves onto a possible situation where we could only imagine how we would react. We gauge ourselves in accordance with social norms, and question whether or not we'd react "courageously." We can relate to the main character, a young solider named Henry, because he initially confirms fears about the self. His cowardice gets the best of him, and he flees his regiment in a high stakes situation. The potential for cowardice is a notion we often try to mentally supress, but inevitably, it remains as a deeply hidden truth. The hero is realistic, and while he does confront his inner demons, it's the coward inside that really strikes deep into our humanity. "

" The Red Badge of courage was a good read, I've read a lot of war books recently and this is one of the better ones. Things a get a bit chaotic at times make the story a little hard to follow, but for the most part the book is a quick read. I feel like there is more to the story than what I got out of it, but I'm not sure what. More research on my part will have to be conducted. I was also hoping for more gore, may STephen Crane will re-write the whole story with more gore if I write him a letter. "

" I enjoyed this book. Amazingly Stephen Crane is said to have had no experence of war himself. He makes the descriptions, both physical and emotional, seem very real. "

" What struck me about this book, and it is and should be considered a classic, was the confusion of the young soldier about why he had chosen to go to war and the clear message that he had no idea what this particular war was being fought for. I had missed reading this book in high school or junior high and in my quest to read all these books chose to read it now. Stephen Crane did a wonderful job of portraying the person he mostly refers to as 'the Youth' in describing the details of a day at the Chancellorsville Battle during the Civil War. It makes my heart ache to think of all these young soldiers who sacrificed their lives, many not really knowing why. I would have given the book a higher rating but I found it a bit of a struggle to read since many of the scenes were chaotic and confusing. "

" A young boy goes to war, chickens out, and runs away. After getting hit on the head, he is able to put his shame behind him when fellow soldiers assume he has been wounded in war. He later "redeems" himself by fighting vigorously. I read this in high school and remembered liking it. I didn't care for it this time. I did find some interesting things in the commentary at the end of the book. It said "what we look for in most novels is a relationship between the external and internal conflict. One is often resolved by means of the other..." So basically coming to terms with an inner conflict allows one to deal with an external problem; OR, the external conflict reveals a hidden part of a person's nature which allows the resolution of the internal conflict. "

" I need to re-read this before trying to review it. "

" This book was about a man being enlisted into the civil war and coming in as a guy that was nervous for war and even ran from his first battle, but throughout the book he really digs deep inside and finds out that he is courageous and pretty much leads his regiment to success in the war. To me this is a really good book to read because it is a story about courage and war which is cool. I would refer this book to someone. "

" On a scale of 1-5, I give this book a 4, only because it was fiction. If this book was non-fiction, then this book would get a defnite 5. I lked this book because not only did it have me onm the edge of my seat, so to speak, but because I love history and war and all of the detals about it. I like history because its easy to learn about, seeing history doesn't change. And also because it is so captivating. It paints a picture for you in every paragraph. "

" Very dramatic and an avid exploration of a young man's character, "

" When I look at the ratings for Crane's work, I think people too often fail to consider context when they read a book about war and courage written over 100 years ago. I give it five stars because it is a psychological study of macho fantasy, heroism, cowardice, and panic. It is all these things and it was written in an era filled with books written by veterans who tell us about their battles, their commands, and their excellent strategies gone wrong. None of these books touch the depths of the human experience that Crane reaches. No, he doesn't focus on the deep brutality of battle. That is really a post-WWI style of war fiction. Nonetheless, this is a classic piece of American literature, and I think it may be the father of US war fiction. "

" What struck me about this book, and it is and should be considered a classic, was the confusion of the young soldier about why he had chosen to go to war and the clear message that he had no idea what this particular war was being fought for. I had missed reading this book in high school or junior high and in my quest to read all these books chose to read it now. Stephen Crane did a wonderful job of portraying the person he mostly refers to as 'the Youth' in describing the details of a day at the Chancellorsville Battle during the Civil War. It makes my heart ache to think of all these young soldiers who sacrificed their lives, many not really knowing why. I would have given the book a higher rating but I found it a bit of a struggle to read since many of the scenes were chaotic and confusing. "

" hard hitting book on the rough reality of war in the mid-1800s. Crane also offers the reader a peek into the inherent irrationality of the teenage years. "

" This war novel written by Stephan Crane is a really elaborated piece of writing. The novel is about Henry's change throughout the story how Henry starts off as a chicken and ends as a Mud Digger. I admired Henry's wish to get a red badge of courage, a wound of braveness. Will he get one or not? "

" Possibly the first serious book I ever read. "

" The overall idea of this book was obvious and understandable, but, for me, it was hard to follow exactly what was going on in each setting. That is the biggest reason for my 2 star rating, I would get lost, mixed up and only figure out a couple pages later what I was reading about. I think this is partially because very few character names were used, but it was also the writing style of the author (which could be partially attributed to the fact that it was written almost 100 years ago). Not one I would recommend unless you really like the genre. "

" The Red Badge of Courage is one of my favorite books! "

" To be honest, I didn't quite get this book. It didn't devalue anything for me though, it was written in a realistic style, the details were specific and the psychological affect the war had on the protagonist was insightful. I feel that Crane really captured the feelings of war and what it did to people. The protagonist is part of a regiment and realizes that war isn't all it's painted to be, and he wants to go home. He flees during a battle and comes across a dead soldier, he's terrified and can't bear to fight again. When the climax arrives, I become confused, obviously the protagonist fires up the soldiers to fight again, but how? Is it his shouts and commands, or is it his frenzy that catches on? Either way, I feel that if I reread this book in the future when I'm older and know more of the world, that I will get a better understanding. "

" Crane has never took part in the American Civil War, but his power of imagination is excellent. I myself for the first time understood, that in modern warfare the soldier never knews how the situation develops. May he be brave or may he be a coward he will always be only a pawn in an uncotrolled game. "

" Rite of passage? Ideal v. reality? Historical fiction? This novella has all of those. Stephen Crane wrote this story in 1895 without ever having fought in battle. Somehow he still creates this vivid account of young Henry as he arrives to fight for the first time in the American Civil War. Powerful story. "

" I read this back in High School and remember liking it. I can't remember much about it so I want to go back and read it again. "

" I don't know how well I enjoyed the content of he book (the smattering of gutteral language throughout made reading it a little bit of a chore) but this was an very well written piece of literature. It had me engaged until the very end. "

" This is one of my favorite Civil war novels. If you never read it, it is a quick read and a memorable one. "

" The book was not my favorite and it is one of the first books i can remember reading FOR school. something to read later in life perhaps to find more meaning in. "

" I know it's a classic, but it was hard to follow. "

" I feel like everyone can really connect with Henry. We've all been pure and innocent at some point in our lives before seeing the real world. I really feel strongly connected to this story in the way it's told. I listened to the audio book and really enjoyed hearing it rather than reading it because... Henry felt more alive to me, if that makes sense. I felt like he was right there with me. Like I was on the battle field with him. I cried at the end because it was tragically hopeful, as Henry left his childhood behind. Yet Henry gained respect and adulthood, a transformation we all go through in life. A wonderful book and a joy to read. "

" That poor little drummer boy....I shall never forget. "

" A good book club book. Discussion helps bring out some of the finer points of the novel. Well described as a literary version of an impressionistic painting. "

" Crane's descriptive work is beautiful, almost cinematic. So many authors try to take a minimalist approach to the wording of descriptive sentences and passages, but he takes his time, paints you something special. I live for prose like this. Open it to any page and you'll understand what I'm talking about. Jesus christ the dialogue is awful though. The sea of apostrophes that loomed in every large cluster of speech made it hard to finish. Crane risked undermining everything artful about this work by allowing his characters to speak. If he didn't write in such a way that made me melt, the dialogue would've made this a 1 star work. "

" I swear this book was the precursor to Catch-22. Unfortunately, like Catch-22, the novel is repetitive and not necessarily the most entertaining read. If you're a history buff you'd probably enjoy this... "

" More of a study than a story. Not much of a plot. Still found it highly fascinating. "

" I don't think I am in the right place in my life right now to give this book a proper review. It is about war and there are some pretty graphic images (made more so by my sensitive stomach) and harsh language. This could be a very informative and introspective read, I'm just not there right now. "

" "The Red Badge of Courage", is an American classic that helps the readers understand that even soldiers are human and can feel fear. Many people believe that Henry Flemming, main character, waas a real person and should be viewed as a hero. The truth is that his is not a true statement, because Henry Fleming is not a real person. "This man is no hero. He has no personality, no history, no career outside his reflexes."(Alfred Kazin) "

" Very good book. It is an interesting book about a boy named Henry Fleming and his Civil War experience. If you don't know what to read for school read this one. "

" eh. It wasn't as attention grabbing as I had hoped. An important collection of thoughts, that I fear often go without discussion or concern as those wartime stories of bravado. "

" The Battle of Chancellorsville through the eyes of a young soldier. "

" The book was written in a different era and so wasn't as easy to follow as more recent works, but it did give good insight into the thought process that those in the military go through in battle. I can see why soldiers come home with Post traumatic stress syndrome. Thoughts of- 'I am smarter than my officer. I must save myself. We will rally. I was justified in this action by . . . ' "

" I know this book is a classic, but I don't know why! It was so repetitive! "

" It had some good points but overall was kinda boring. The ending was kind of... Disappointing. "

" Mine is a leather bound issue, part of a collection Dalmatian Press released in 2004. "

" OK. I did it. I read the bloody book because I failed to read it in 5th grade when it was required. WHY WAS THIS ASSIGNED TO 5TH GRADERS? I was wise enough when I was 10 to not read it, and I should have stuck with that. Long, drawn out, boring. There were a few beautifully written passages, but my life was not incomplete because I wasn't exposed to them decades ago. "

" I read this in high school and don't remember a lot of it, though I do remember not caring for it. Oh well. I should probably read it again... "

" Made it to page 44. "

" Although a bit forced and clunky at times, really a great exercise in quality prose and immersive imagery. Quick, easy, but a fun one... "

" What I like most about this book is the author, Stephen Crane, wrote this in his twenties and had never fought in a war. "

" I liked Crane's use of imagery and vernacular, but it was hard to follow the time line and story when it is so detached. It was packed with so much detail that it made the story move really slow. The lack of time and flow is a turn off for me. "

" I read this back in highschool and I might appreciate it more now, but I remember hating it at the time and hating the main character. However, I think that might have been because it messed with my idealism. So now that I'm more of a realist maybe I should read it again and appreciate it more. "

" I read this because one my kids had it as an assignment. It was not really a subject or writing style that engaged me. "

" Much underrated. This book is beautiful and timeless. I taught it to a group of seventh graders and they still remember it with fondness (they are seniors now). "

" I am being forced to read this and I can't stand that feeling, i'm sure the book is good but when I have negative energy of being forced then I can't stand anything. So i'm sure if it was a free read i would love it. "

" I have to read this book for class and i have to say its a little challenging but it explains war well. "

" Super short. Mildly entertaining. Slightly confusing. "

" Very surprised at the low marks this book has gotten. It's concise, addresses its points very well, and provides a fascinating insight into the values of Civil War-era America. Give it a look, preferably when a sophomore English teacher isn't breathing down your neck. "

" I would never read this book again. They slang in here is hard to read at times, and I couldn't reallty follow the story libe because of it. "

" Read along with students. Looking forward to their papers on Monday. "

" Good book. Hard to read, because of the language style. An interesting read. Glad I read it. "

" Not a fan at all. Droll, boring, and a failed attempt at creating a hero out of a gory and horrific event. Known for its metaphor and symbolism if I recall it definately was not very outstanding considering I cannot even remember a whole lot about it other than I dreaded English homework for the 3 wks we spent on this book. "

" While the style of writing was quite nice and rather enjoyable, war stories just aren't for me. Especially when war is literally all the whole book is about. "

" Classic story of the unexpected horrors of war. "

" Great historical fiction about what it feels like in a hard battle in war. "

" the red badge of boring. "

" This high school classic follows the conflicted thoughts of a young Civil War soldier during his first battle against enemy troops. The focus is not on the war, but on the inner turmoil experienced by the youth. It makes for very ungripping reading. Important reflections about the nature of human conflict, but still boring. "

" I read this on the 11th grade, and I did not really care for it at the time. The language was just insane to me. But I feel like I should give it another chance. "

" I know this book is a classic, but I don't know why! It was so repetitive! "

" It has a different writing style. Never understand why classics become such. Rarely gives characters a name. Different but now I know what it is about. "

" Wonderful descriptive writing. You almost felt like you were there. And you also have to think about the meaning of courage....is it doing something that's hard for you, or is it doing something that everyone else is doing and you are caught up in the fervor of the moment? "

" I actually had a hard time reading this - I think it was the dialect, but still glad I read it finally, since it's been on my "to-read" list forever! "

" I really don't know why I persevere reading war books... it might not be a bad book but I've had my fill of books about fighting and war so I just shouldn't have read it. "

" I didn't quite understand it because I had just arrived to this country. I read the cliffnotes later. "

" A true classic! A short must-read for everyone. Crane understands the human condition beautifully! "

" Remember liking it more in high school, but read as the classic selection for the book discussion group who for the most part enjoyed this psychological examination of war. "

" Strangely, I found it so bright and inspiring. Because the young man finds his validation on the battle front. It's by accident and through the eyes of others. But it's still OK -- it works.This rang so true to me when I read it in the eighth or ninth grade. "

" I struggled through this book... I think I probably re-read and skipped parts without realizing it. The description is endless! I didn't much like the kid, either, which never helps. Just not my cup of tea. "

" I had to read this in high school and it was one of the most boring books I ever read. At this point I admit that I've forgotten a lot of it. The most I remember is that the main character blathers on and on about his cowardice. "

" Biggest waste of time ever, but I liked the word choices and phrasings. "

" Oh it was amazing. Just amazing. A must read. I'm doing my junior theme on crane and I just feel this story is a master peace. Expertly woven with imagery and symbolism and everything you could want in a highly evolved, intellectual, touching story of bravery and manhood. "

" Immediately jumped to one of my top five books of all time. Phenomenally written. "

" This historical fiction book was about The Battle of Chancellorsville in the May of 1863. It's Henry Flemings first battle in the war and he's afraid. He goes to battle and runs away. Will he gain the courage to fight? Who will win the battle? "

" The story wasn't bad. I just found it boring, but I wanted to really like it. "

" this book took me longer to read than any other book i have ever read...it was a really boring book. "

" Easy, fast read. Not enough for me to say "a great book!" but an interesting look into a young boy's mind during a war. "

" This is why I reread some things from HS that I didn't give a fair shake--usually, I like them a lot better than I thought I did. In this case, I upgraded this a star. "

" This book had a terrible bit of useless babbling. Not for someone who is new to reading or who is a reluctant reader. DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IN A CLASSROOM SETTING IF YOU WANT TO GET THE KIDS READING, THEY WILL HATE IT. "

" Remember liking it more in high school, but read as the classic selection for the book discussion group who for the most part enjoyed this psychological examination of war. "

" This book is so well written it almost makes up for the boring plot line. "

" Not bad, just not my sort of book. Good prose, boring dialogue, flowery descriptions. "

" First time read: May 5, 2011 "

" Don't know which was worse, suffering through it the first time, or having to read it again. Both times for school. "

" Stephan Crane had some vocabulary. I first read this in high school....can't imagine I got much out of it..but now great insight into war and individual human impact. Still a classic. "

" Catching up on the books I missed in high school. Glad I missed it then, because I probably would have hated it. Loved it now, though. The only bad thing I can say is that in realizing he was only 23 when he wrote this, Crane made me feel like a complete failure. "

" An excellent book about the fog and confusion of war as seen through the eyes of a boy who wants to become a man. Very descriptive and interesting. This is a re-read for me, but like other books I read as a teen, it was like reading it for the first time. "

" By the middle I was actually hoping for him to get hit by a stray bullet as he staggered around in endless agonies of conscience. "

" The author's vivid descriptions made everything real. I wish every student of the Civil War could be made to read this and understand the anguish of war. "

" Thought provoking and uncomfortably familiar. "

" A man's internal and external stuggle with the civil war. A bit difficult to follow at times. "

" I distinctly remember enjoying this book when I was young. Boring! "

" I thought that this book was really enjoyable and it was interesting to see war from that perspective. I would recommend this book to those who love history or war novels. Just don't read it in 3 days and pull 48 quotations from it..... "

" I like to call my period this. "

" I guess I'm not much of war reader. "

" I had a hard time reading this one. Mostly I fell asleep before I could get into it and ended up taking a month to read even though it is pretty short. Not sure I would recommend this one for people to read, just not really good in my mind. "

" Made it to page 44. "

" So boring. It is one of the shortest books ever and it took me the longest time to read. I inevitabley fell into a deep sleep everytime I tried reading it. I don't really understand why it is so important in literature. "

" Fantastic story about the civil war, doubts, fighting, courage... I thoroughly enjoyed the book. "

" Assigned read for freshman English. Reading this book was like having an organ transplant without anesthesia: a painful, bloody mess. "

" This war novel written by Stephan Crane is a really elaborated piece of writing. The novel is about Henry's change throughout the story how Henry starts off as a chicken and ends as a Mud Digger. I admired Henry's wish to get a red badge of courage, a wound of braveness. Will he get one or not? "

" I absolutely loathed this book. I cried trying to get through it when it was assigned reading. "

" this book is an interesting insight to the war, but the accents and wording are a little bit stiff. i found this story to be exceedingly boring. "

" It's a war story but there are a lot of parallels to everyday living. We always think we'll react differently in stressful situations before we are actually faced with the crisis. The overall message is that man can do incredible things when he forgets himself and goes to work. "

" Well written, but I did not enjoy it. "

" I have read this book at least 3 or 4 times, and I can never get a better opinion of it. I love Stephen Crane's poetry, however. "

" A classic from my shelves that I knew I needed to read. Two books about war pretty close together. Don't need to do that again. "

" This is one of the best books I HAVE EVER READ!!! HOW DEAR YOU PEOPLE PUT IT INTO THE WORST BOOKS OF ALL TIME SECTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

" I can't remember a book that's made my mind wander as many times as this did. Considering its only 120 pages that's quite an achievement. Stupefyingly dull despite being one big action scene the author loves to navel gaze and romantically recreate battles that he wasn't present at. "

" Much underrated. This book is beautiful and timeless. I taught it to a group of seventh graders and they still remember it with fondness (they are seniors now). "

" Liked the book and would recommend. Read everything that I can associated witht the Civil War and the chaos of war. "

" Couldn't wait for it to end. I'm kind of surprised I made it to the end. "

" I definitely see why this is a classic. Hemingway and Faulkner must have been heavily influenced by Crane. What a shame he died at 28. "

" well it was good just not my favorite civil war book it had purpose though i recommend read at least once in your lifetime "

" Haven't read this since high school, or maybe college so wanted to compare an 1895 war novel with the Vietnam tome I just finished. Many similar themes but Stephen Crane's literary writing ability far exceeded Karl Marlantes storytelling abilities. Both were great reads in their own right. "

" Read this in Jr. High and recently again so that I can have Cailin read it for a summer book report. Loved it both times! "

" Very well-written, and a unique and insightful take on depiction of war. War books just aren't my thing... "

" I hated this book. There wasn't anything about it denoting courage. For me, it was all a lie, a coward's lie. I was disgusted with this book. I have no idea why my English teachers would have thought I'd like this story. They were dead wrong and they didn't understand me at all. "

" I read this book when I was young and thought it was a great book. This time I didn't see what was so great about it. "

" interesting read but couldn't get too into it ... prob only the second civil war book i've read (next to Gone with the Wind) and just wasn't as good ... i do have to say it did seem like the author had been in those battles when in fact he was born after the war was already over. "

" I had to read this book in high school, and while it had good detail, it was extremely violent in nature. The main theme is sacrifice, and the cost of war. "

" I was never assigned to read this book in elementary school but I know of a lot of people who were, so I decided to read it. Although I found parts of this book to be quite boring, it really helped me appreciate the Civil War. "

" I wanted to say I really liked it, because it was old and clean and different. But, it was too vague for me. I never new what side he was on, I'm a co-dependant reader and need to know things like that. I did think it was cute when ever they said God it was spelled Gawd. "

" Couldn't even make it through disc 1. I've always liked Stephen Crane, but his books should be read, not listened to. I'll try picking this one up again someday. "

" Remember liking it more in high school, but read as the classic selection for the book discussion group who for the most part enjoyed this psychological examination of war. "

" This was an interesting book. I was expecting it to be bloody, and it was, but the narrative was kind of distancing from the events taking place so I didn't feel to overwhelmed by the fighting. "

" This was merely "OK" for me. I could not really get into the book. I wish I could articulate why, but I cannot. "

" Couldn't even make it through disc 1. I've always liked Stephen Crane, but his books should be read, not listened to. I'll try picking this one up again someday. "

" I had to read this in high school for a presentation and I did not appreciate it... I love to read and once I start on a book I will try to finish it but this book just made me want to sleep... Its a good read I guess but just not of my taste :/ "

" It was ok but not a big fan of war "

" Brilliant writing, and when I found out the author wrote this before he died at the age of 29 without ever fighting in a battle, I was even more impressed. bookxray.blogspot.com "

" Good read - interesting as it details military experiance - quite dense for such a short book. "

" Fittingly, I finished this on Veterans' Day. This is not the same book that I read in high school. "

" Slow read, but moving and well written. Rings true to war even today "

" Just couldn't get into this book. I thought it was very slow in the beginning, but the theme of the story was okay in the end. "

" I actually read the whole book. I seldom do that. "

" Fight or don't! I don't need to read 200 pages of your internal struggles!! "

" I really don't care to write a full review on this book but it was so irritating. I read it for school. I don't know, I just really didn't like it, oh well. "

" I enjoyed reading this book because of how the story is executed and the situations faced by the main character. However I found it was a challenge to read it. I am so used to easy books, this book tested me on my comprehension and so forth because its complex typing. "

" The story wasn't bad. I just found it boring, but I wanted to really like it. "

" I've never been a huge classics fan, but this one was particularly difficult for me to get through. Lots of unimportant dialog and information. Focuses on de-glorifying war, and showing all the harsh realities of war and being a soldier. "

" I didn't quite understand it because I had just arrived to this country. I read the cliffnotes later. "

" I read this during graduate school and analyzed the use of sound. Love Civil War literature! "

" Amazing poetic language, a terse and to-the-point story - it is one of the greatest Civil War novels of all time. "

" Listened to this book on cd and although I enjoyed the language and flow of the words, the overly redneck drawl put on by the reader was irrating enough to make me breathe a sigh of relief when it ended! "

" It's a war novel, and though set in the midst of a Civil War battle, the real struggle is in the mind of the inwardly-conflicted main character, Henry Fleming. To me, it wasn't exactly a gripping tale, but the psychological insight was interesting. "

" It has a different writing style. Never understand why classics become such. Rarely gives characters a name. Different but now I know what it is about. "

" Finally got around to reading this... they tell me it's a classic :) "

" It's the kind of book that seems better AFTER you've read it all the way through. It can get confusing in the midst of it, but afterwards, it gives you a lot to think about. Especially since Stephen Crane wasn't even in the war and imagined the story and how everything would've been. "

" Read in 6th grade. Thought it amazing at that time, but not sure now. Will try to read again. "

" Lots of lots of imagery, not so much story. I'm sure high school literature teachers love it since there is a simile or metaphor in every sentence, but I couldn't stay into it. The prose was nice, the plot was not. "

" Was a must read for English Lit - 10th grade lol. I did my report and pulled an 85! "

" Catching up on the books I missed in high school. Glad I missed it then, because I probably would have hated it. Loved it now, though. The only bad thing I can say is that in realizing he was only 23 when he wrote this, Crane made me feel like a complete failure. "

" Brilliant writing, and when I found out the author wrote this before he died at the age of 29 without ever fighting in a battle, I was even more impressed. bookxray.blogspot.com "

" I had a hard time reading this one. Mostly I fell asleep before I could get into it and ended up taking a month to read even though it is pretty short. Not sure I would recommend this one for people to read, just not really good in my mind. "

" I loved this book. It had amazing detail and made me proud of the art of wriing. "

" Very much an adult read. Crane realistically captures the fear of going to war. "

" I actually read the whole book. I seldom do that. "

" Not bad, just not my sort of book. Good prose, boring dialogue, flowery descriptions. "

" Great historical fiction about what it feels like in a hard battle in war. "

" This was a tough read. "

" Remember liking it more in high school, but read as the classic selection for the book discussion group who for the most part enjoyed this psychological examination of war. "

" Yuck. Don't like war movies either! "

" The Red Badge of Courage tells the story of a young man's struggle to grow up during his first battle of the Civil War. I found the young man to be whiny, self-focused, and unsympathetic. However, he did learn from his mistakes and that makes the book worthwhile. Cautions: none. "

" Hard language... Ground breaking look at war! "

" A classic from my shelves that I knew I needed to read. Two books about war pretty close together. Don't need to do that again. "

" This historical fiction book was about The Battle of Chancellorsville in the May of 1863. It's Henry Flemings first battle in the war and he's afraid. He goes to battle and runs away. Will he gain the courage to fight? Who will win the battle? "

" I read somewhere that war veterans were surprised that Crane had never been in a war because he got the emotions that go through soldiers down perfectly. "

" A very well written war novel, especially for someone who did not fight in the Civil War. "

" I definitely see why this is a classic. Hemingway and Faulkner must have been heavily influenced by Crane. What a shame he died at 28. "

" Young Henry enlists. He learns the realities of war. His conscience bothers him, over an act of cowardice, but the feeling passes. "

" Another boring "American classic" (I really have to stop reading those). Luckily this one was a lot shorter than Moby Dick. "

" It was just an average book for me. Not entirely interesting. "

" I had read this in high school. I remembered the scene of the young man encountering the dead rebel soldier, but had forgotten all the rest. A great story of coming of age in difficult situations. "

" I love history and I enjoyed reading this in school...It was a great read as required reading is concerned. I think this is why I love historical fiction so much. "

" Did not give it proper attention as adolescent. What an astonishing, pre-modern impressionist! "

" Strangely, I found it so bright and inspiring. Because the young man finds his validation on the battle front. It's by accident and through the eyes of others. But it's still OK -- it works.This rang so true to me when I read it in the eighth or ninth grade. "

" I read this on the 11th grade, and I did not really care for it at the time. The language was just insane to me. But I feel like I should give it another chance. "

" Stephan Crane had some vocabulary. I first read this in high school....can't imagine I got much out of it..but now great insight into war and individual human impact. Still a classic. "

" This is the first book I remember having to read and absolutely hating it. I should be fair & re-read it, but I don't think I will. "

" Dragged in the beginning, but ended well. A classic, but not the best classic ever by any means. "

" This book is about a boy named Henry who is bored with his simple life. He diecides to join the Union Army and becone apart of the Civil War. This book is great for depectiing life in the North during the Civil War Era. "

" This book had a terrible bit of useless babbling. Not for someone who is new to reading or who is a reluctant reader. DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IN A CLASSROOM SETTING IF YOU WANT TO GET THE KIDS READING, THEY WILL HATE IT. "

" I LOVE this novel. The ambiguousness of the text and the questionable growth of the character are qualities that I find absolutely fascinating and endlessly captivating. I didn't expect to be changed and challenged by reading this one...but I have been. "

" It's a war novel, and though set in the midst of a Civil War battle, the real struggle is in the mind of the inwardly-conflicted main character, Henry Fleming. To me, it wasn't exactly a gripping tale, but the psychological insight was interesting. "

" I was never assigned to read this book in elementary school but I know of a lot of people who were, so I decided to read it. Although I found parts of this book to be quite boring, it really helped me appreciate the Civil War. "

" Good read - interesting as it details military experiance - quite dense for such a short book. "

" First time read: May 5, 2011 "

" What can I say? It's a classic. Not unreadable--I remember reading this in school. It seems a bit redundant in places, but overall, not bad (and it's short!) "

" it was really read in the eyes of a soldier "

" I felt jipped that I never read this in high school so i bought this a while ago and finally read it. I shouldn't have bothered. All the old terminilogy and war slang made it hard to understand and the book, although short just drags on. "

" Quiet lame. Such an intense topic and Crane doesn't display intensity. I do have to admit that I was in grade school when I read it. (The movie was also a bit of a let down.) "

" I struggled through this book... I think I probably re-read and skipped parts without realizing it. The description is endless! I didn't much like the kid, either, which never helps. Just not my cup of tea. "

" I don't like exploring the depths of human depravity much, but it was OK. "

" I don't know how well I enjoyed the content of he book (the smattering of gutteral language throughout made reading it a little bit of a chore) but this was an very well written piece of literature. It had me engaged until the very end. "

" Hard to believe this was written over a hundred years ago. Very realistic portrayal of the inner workings of a soldier going into battle. "

" Has there ever been a better book about war written by a guy who never saw it?Lyrical,truthful...Best. "

" I'd probably give this more of a 3.5, but I did find I enjoyed his short stories more. Moving on to his poetry... "

" A classic short story. I read this as an eBook. The tale follows the psychology of a young soldier's coming of age in the Civil War. "

" Intensely psychological. Very thought provoking. "

" This my second read. I read it about 15 years ago for an Undergraduate class in 19th Century American Lit. It relatively short, but full to the brim with carefully crafted imagery and poetic prose. Thoroughly enjoyed it slowly this time. "

" This was one of the first "serious" books ever given to me as a young girl. My father told me that even though it "didn't look fun" that it would be worth it to read it. My father always was a wise man. "

" I read this one in high school and remember enjoying it. I think every season in life presents battles that we fear running from. I remember reading this book right before I was eligible for the draft, and the question of courage seemed very real to me. "

" I finally read this as part of my nagging desire to read all those books that, supposedly, everyone reads in high school. For some reason this one failed to consistantly hold my attention. Maybe it begs a second reading someday. "

" Second of public-domain classics I never read from Project Gutenberg read on my iPod using iBooks software. "

" it was really read in the eyes of a soldier "

" This book is a great depiction of the civil war. It had great descriptive battle scenes, as well as insightful moments into the soldiers minds. "

" Listened to this book on cd and although I enjoyed the language and flow of the words, the overly redneck drawl put on by the reader was irrating enough to make me breathe a sigh of relief when it ended! "

" Very well-written, and a unique and insightful take on depiction of war. War books just aren't my thing... "

" I think that there are some very telling moments in this novel, and I think there are some beautiful metaphors, but there was something about it that just did not draw me in. I can't quite put my finger on it, but something was missing. "

" Good. Read in 2005, I think. There are better Civil War stories out there though. "

" Incredibly wonderful, despite its far-flung reputation as a standard. "

" I guess I'm not much of war reader. "

" Listened to this on a road trip to Missouri. I'd forgotten how descriptive it is. Definitely liked reading it years ago better than listening to it. "

" Listened to this on a road trip to Missouri. I'd forgotten how descriptive it is. Definitely liked reading it years ago better than listening to it. "

" Listened to this on a road trip to Missouri. I'd forgotten how descriptive it is. Definitely liked reading it years ago better than listening to it. "

" Listened to this on a road trip to Missouri. I'd forgotten how descriptive it is. Definitely liked reading it years ago better than listening to it. "

" Listened to this on a road trip to Missouri. I'd forgotten how descriptive it is. Definitely liked reading it years ago better than listening to it. "

" Listened to this on a road trip to Missouri. I'd forgotten how descriptive it is. Definitely liked reading it years ago better than listening to it. "

" Listened to this on a road trip to Missouri. I'd forgotten how descriptive it is. Definitely liked reading it years ago better than listening to it. "

" Listened to this on a road trip to Missouri. I'd forgotten how descriptive it is. Definitely liked reading it years ago better than listening to it. "

" Listened to this on a road trip to Missouri. I'd forgotten how descriptive it is. Definitely liked reading it years ago better than listening to it. "

" Listened to this on a road trip to Missouri. I'd forgotten how descriptive it is. Definitely liked reading it years ago better than listening to it. "

" This was a tough read. "

" This was a tough read. "

" This was a tough read. "

" This was a tough read. "

" This was a tough read. "

" This was a tough read. "

" This was a tough read. "

" There's nothing I can say about this that hasn't been said. The story is just kind of awkwardly put together and the symbolism is too bold. Not my favorite. "

" There's nothing I can say about this that hasn't been said. The story is just kind of awkwardly put together and the symbolism is too bold. Not my favorite. "

" There's nothing I can say about this that hasn't been said. The story is just kind of awkwardly put together and the symbolism is too bold. Not my favorite. "

" There's nothing I can say about this that hasn't been said. The story is just kind of awkwardly put together and the symbolism is too bold. Not my favorite. "

" There's nothing I can say about this that hasn't been said. The story is just kind of awkwardly put together and the symbolism is too bold. Not my favorite. "

" There's nothing I can say about this that hasn't been said. The story is just kind of awkwardly put together and the symbolism is too bold. Not my favorite. "

" There's nothing I can say about this that hasn't been said. The story is just kind of awkwardly put together and the symbolism is too bold. Not my favorite. "

" There's nothing I can say about this that hasn't been said. The story is just kind of awkwardly put together and the symbolism is too bold. Not my favorite. "

" There's nothing I can say about this that hasn't been said. The story is just kind of awkwardly put together and the symbolism is too bold. Not my favorite. "

" This was an awesome book about the Civil War and its affect on one young man and how he grew up as a soldier. "

" This was an awesome book about the Civil War and its affect on one young man and how he grew up as a soldier. "

" I read this back in highschool and I might appreciate it more now, but I remember hating it at the time and hating the main character. However, I think that might have been because it messed with my idealism. So now that I'm more of a realist maybe I should read it again and appreciate it more. "

" I read this back in highschool and I might appreciate it more now, but I remember hating it at the time and hating the main character. However, I think that might have been because it messed with my idealism. So now that I'm more of a realist maybe I should read it again and appreciate it more. "

" This was an awesome book about the Civil War and its affect on one young man and how he grew up as a soldier. "

" I read this back in highschool and I might appreciate it more now, but I remember hating it at the time and hating the main character. However, I think that might have been because it messed with my idealism. So now that I'm more of a realist maybe I should read it again and appreciate it more. "

" This was an awesome book about the Civil War and its affect on one young man and how he grew up as a soldier. "

" I read this back in highschool and I might appreciate it more now, but I remember hating it at the time and hating the main character. However, I think that might have been because it messed with my idealism. So now that I'm more of a realist maybe I should read it again and appreciate it more. "